Chapter 6; The truth revealed
Harry woke up the following morning with a headache. Rubbing his temples, he thought about the events of the previous day and felt bad for acting the way he did, but he knew it was as much Ron's fault as it was his. Knowing he had to apologize to Ron, he got out of bed, took a shower and soon went downstairs where Hermione was busy over the stove and Ron was waiting for breakfast.
"Oh good Harry, you're up. Breakfast will be ready in a bit," Hermione said without looking at him.
"Thanks Hermione," Harry responded as he sat across from Ron. "Morning Ron," he greeted.
"I don't understand why Hermione doesn't use magic to cook," Ron complained. "I'm starving and it takes forever to cook the muggle way," he continued and looked at Hermione. "Or why doesn't she let Dobby do the cooking?" he asked and looked at Harry.
"Ron, I already told you to stop whining. I'll be done any minute now," Hermione berated and mumbled something that sounded like Boys.
Harry didn't mind Hermione cooking the muggle way; it was quite interesting to watch as a matter of fact. He had prepared many meals at the Dursley's for so many years and liked the muggle way of cooking better than using magic to achieve the same results.
"Do you need a hand with that?" Harry suggested and Hermione nodded.
"Do you want to do the bacon or start with the omelettes?" she asked as Harry stood next to her.
"I'll do the omelettes," he replied as he retrieved another frying pan.
He walked up to the refrigerator and took out some eggs. The entire time Harry helped Hermione, Ron was watching them furiously, but they didn't seem to notice him at all. They laughed together and helped each other while sometimes playfully slapping each other with towels or throwing flour at each other. They were in they're own little world and Ron didn't like it one bit. He waited patiently for them to finish and kept a close eye on them. Finally, when the meal was ready, Hermione put breakfast on the table.
"It's about time," Ron mumbled and looked at Hermione, who was half covered with flour.
Hermione looked at the way he was looking at her and blushed a little. Clearing the flour off her face with a flick of her wand, she was as clean as before as the three of them ate in silence. Ron was the first one to finished eating and was about to leave the kitchen, when Harry stopped him.
"Ron, may I have a word with you?" Harry asked
"Fine, I'll wait for you in the living room," Ron replied and left the room.
A few minutes later, Harry approached the living room and found Ron watching muggle television. Hermione had explained to Ron that since Harry was brought up as a muggle, he may like having some muggle items at his home, which was quite true.
"What did you want to talk about?" Ron asked but kept his eyes on the television. He was amused at the way the little box, as he called it, worked. Harry sighed and turned off the television before sitting opposite of Ron. "Hey, what did you did that for?"
"I want to talk to you, but not while you're watching this," Harry said and pointed at the television. "Look Ron, I wanted apologize of my actions last night," he started. "I've been…well, this house brings up a lot of bad memories of my parents and it reminds me that they're not here anymore," Harry said, while Ron simply stared at him.
"Look mate, I'm sorry too," Ron replied after a while. "I know it must be hard to live here. Hermione told me this as well; she warned me that you may be emotional and stuff and it wasn't right of me what I told you last night either," Ron said.
"No hard feelings then?" Harry asked with a smile and extended his hand out to Ron.
"No hard feelings," Ron replied as he shook Harry's hand.
With each passing day, Harry began to get used to Godric's Hollow. The night before they had to set off to Hogwarts, he realized he didn't want to leave his house. That night, he sat on his bed and looked out the window of his bedroom. His bright emerald eyes were watery and a few tears fell down; he wasn't sure if he would ever return to the home his parents had left him.
He was brought back to reality by a quiet knock on his door. Wiping his eyes, he said 'come in'. Hermione opened the door and saw her friend sitting on the bed, his back turned towards her, and looking into the darkness before him. The room was dark; the only light in the room came from moonlight shining brightly in the night sky.
"Harry," she said quietly and walked closer to him. "What's the matter? You were too quiet at dinner and I got a little worried," she said.
"Shouldn't you be with Ron?" Harry asked, ignoring her question completely.
"He's sleeping," Hermione answered. "So tell me what's wrong."
Feeling helpless, Harry shrugged. He knew Hermione wouldn't leave it just like that.
"Nothing. I just don't want to leave this place; I don't want to go back to school anymore," Harry said and felt odd. He usually yearned to go back to school and now there he was. He no longer wanted to go to the one place he had considered his home for six long years. "What if I never see this place again?" he asked quietly, rather to himself than to anyone else.
"Don't say that, Harry. You'll come back here and live a normal life after it's all over," she gently replied.
"A normal life. I can never live normal life, Hermione. Not even if I manage to kill Voldemort," he said in disgust. "Then I won't only be the boy-who-lived, but the boy-who-saved-the-world," he said bitterly.
"But at least you can breathe deeply and enjoy life without being worried and scared all the time," she said.
"That's just a dream, Hermione; we both know that."
"It's a dream that will come true."
"I don't know," Harry said sadly. "I haven't even thought about it. I haven't thought of the life I might get to live if I kill Voldemort," he said.
"You should think about it. You know what I think?" she asked before she continued. "I think you will get back together with Ginny or find someone else and have a wonderful life together," she said and Harry looked at her. With the moonlight shining upon her, he saw her smiling. He saw how perfectly her hair sparkled and how beautiful she was. But then he remembered the sight of her wrapped up in towel and he quickly turned away.
"I won't get back together with Ginny. It just…it didn't feel right," he started and walked up to the balcony, feeling the soft wind blowing on his face as he looked up at the stars and the moon. "Ron wants me to get back together with her too, but I can't. I don't have feelings for her anymore but I can't tell Ron." That's it. He had admitted something to Hermione that he was afraid to admit to himself.
"Ron will get over it," Hermione said walking up to Harry. "Ginny is still his sister. He's just worried and he thinks you're what's best for her. But he hasn't considered that it may not be what you and Ginny want and need," she said.
"Thanks," Harry answered her.
"He doesn't even realize that the way we keep arguing may not be good for us either. He just doesn't see that there really can't be anything between him and me," she continued without listening to Harry. She was gazing at the stars and seemed to be deep in her thoughts. "I'm tired of fighting with him, Harry. He always thinks he's right and I'm wrong. We never even talk like you and I are doing right now," she sighed. "I think my feelings for him died out a while ago," she finally admitted. Harry listened carefully; he didn't know what he should do or say. "I liked him. I thought I did because I…" she started but realized what she was about to say. "But now, now all those feelings have died out and I don't like him as more than a friend."
"Why are you telling me this?" Harry asked the first thing that came into his mind.
"Because you're the only one I can talk to. You're the only one who could possibly understand me the way I understand you," she started. "I can't…I don't know how much longer I can pretend to like him. I want to call it off with him but I can't. I don't want to hurt him nor do I want to break the friendship between us." she said desperately and without warning, she wrapped her arms around Harry, holding him tight, crying on his chest.
Harry was a little taken aback with the unfolding events, but recovered quickly. He put his arms around her and began stroking her back and her soft hair. He yearned to be able to help her, to erase her pain, to do something for her, but he didn't know how. He had never been very good with that kind of thing; he didn't know how to support and help someone who needed him in that way.
Hermione was beginning to calm down, and began to shy away from his embrace. "Thank you, Harry," she finally said as she let him go and Harry found himself wishing to have her close again.
"For what?" he asked and walked back to his bedroom; he had to clear his mind. Why had he thought that way about her? They should be friends; he couldn't afford to think any other way about her.
"For listening," Hermione said but stayed on the balcony. "Is everything okay Harry?" she asked.
"Yes, I'm fine, Hermione. Just thinking of what you said," he replied and looked at her. He regretted that move later. The moon was shining above her, stars surrounding her and she, in her white nightgown, was looking sadly at him. She looked beautiful to him, but he had to forget thoughts like that. "You should talk to Ron; he deserves to know and I'm sure it won't ruin your friendship with him," Harry suggested.
"You really think so?" Hermione asked and Harry nodded. She looked like an angel to him and he was staring her dumbly. "I will then. Thanks again, Harry," she added with small smile upon her lips.
She walked up to Harry and without warning, she stood up on the tip of her toes and placed a light kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight," she said before exiting the room, leaving Harry stunned.
She had kissed him like that before, but somehow it was different that time; it felt different and that didn't let him fall asleep too soon. Memories of the first day in Godric's Hollow, memories of Hermione in only her towel, memories of them cooking together in the morning and how they quite often seemed to get lost in they're own little world where there was only enough room for the two of them. And now, thoughts of Hermione in her white nightgown under the moon and stars, and Hermione kissing him on his cheek. What was happening to him?